Hobbies - do they cost or save you money?

[crosses]

I was thinking about my hobbies. Some of them cost money while others of them actually save me money. I was thinking that if I concentrate on the hobbies that save me money instead of those that cost money, I could probably save an extra couple of hundred dollars a year.

What are your hobbies and do your hobbies cost money or save you money?

[PrincessPerky]

My hobbies are reading (free from library) and teaching.

The teaching saves me money, both in current day care costs and in future investment (education at their rate saves in the long run)

DHs hobbies are gamming and writing. The gaming is a bit expensive (which is why it is hardly done, poor guy .)

But the writing is mainly cost of electricity (on computer), might actually one day make him money .

[tamip]

I knit and crochet, and it has resulted in a yarn fetish. I tend to shy away from expensive novelty yarn, and most of the time, I donate what I make- so that's tax deductible.

So, the cost I incur is minimal. And now, since I've managed to stockpile so much, it's saving me money because I'm making most of my Christmas presents from what I already have.

Tami

[miclason]

reading, knitting and cross stitching...they are all costing me money at the moment, but, I'm starting to knit to sell, so it might actually end up making me money! (wish me luck!)...

[momma4]

it depends on which hobbie i do LOL. Well, my sewing does sometimes save me money expecally when my girls' want new dresses. Right now it cost me $14 to make 3 dresses and this included the ribbon and buttons for them. And I still have the patterns so all I have to do is keep my eye open for nice prints on the $1 rack at walmart or even for my youngest daughter to make her a dress it takes less than a yd so I can even watch the scrap bins for mark downs. Cross stitching really is not cheap that I have found. Internet just costs me sleep LOL. Scrapbooking OMG could break me LOL but then again I could be more frugal about it too. I crochet and knitt but not really too much lately my hands are just too sore and I also candle make this saves us threw those hurricane seasons and I am totally stocked just incase the batteries in the flashlight die.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh yeah cross stitch, that is one of those hobbies that cost my money in the teen years, but I now have the stockpile and I am not much for following directions so I make up stuff, not to good so it is only for Moms and Gmoms (they forgive me for beginers work). But I do like it. And it saves me money now on their gifts.

[DivaJen]

My sewing usually saves money, assuming I would buy the things I make. All of DD's holiday and birthday clothes have been handmade, and I know they've been cheaper than their store-bought counterparts.

Knitting and crocheting....that costs me money. I've sold a few items here and there, but mostly I spend money on that hobby. It's fun, and I'm not planning on giving it up any time soon.

Gardening....I've gotten better about not spending so much on plants. In fact, I rarely go to the nursery anymore. But funnily enough, I've been thinking baout it a lot lately.

Internet/web site - that brings in money and other perks but takes a lot of my time, and that is a cost that sometimes frustrates me. On the plus side, I get a lot of free books to read, which feeds one of my other hobbies. I use the library and borrow books a lot more now than I used to, so my reading doesn't cost me all that much. I don't feel bad spending money on books, however.

I guess that's about it for me hobbies.

[gakline]

I've been making soap. It saves me money, but I haven't thought about selling it or actually making money on it.

[cercis]

I knit and right now it doesn't really do either. I've been trying to only knit when I need a gift and give what I knit as gifts. I knitted some incredible shawls for xmas presents for my MIL and SILs. I convereted the pattern to a poncho for my niece so she could match her mother (I didn't think an 18mo could hold a shawl on her shoulders).

I'd like to figure out how to sell the knit items. But for now, saving on gifts is good enough.

I've been knitting up a huge yarn stash (cheap-o yarn which was given to me). I'm making baby blankets I'll donate to the thrift store. They're kind of scratchy, so they're really only good for use with a receiving blanket between them and the baby, but they don't stain and they're washable, so they're good for throwing down on the floor and the ground.

[Razzy]

They cost me money but do keep me occupied and not wanting to go to the mall and spend more money. So I guess you could say my hobbies do save me money.


Razzy

[Fern]

I think hobbies by definition are meant for R&R, altho i supposes sometimes by happenstance they can save $, tho generally not.

My newest hobby is kayaking; the kayak, rooftotp system, lifejacket, paddle, etc. etc. cost about $1,200, not cheap, but we've been getting lots of use of them all summer. My other hobbies cost much less, gardening, photography, walking/bike riding since i've already made what's turned out to be one-time purchases and nothing further needed.

[Razzy]

I know when I am making something I am relaxing and feeling better about myself. Yes some hobbies aren't cheap but hey life ain't cheap either.


Razzy

[akaivyleaf]

I don't know whether they save me money, but they do save my sanity so that drastically reduces medical bills I'm sure. I don't do a hobby to save money, and if I can turn a hobby into a business, its no longer classified as a hobby.

[niki_the_tiger]

Writing used to be my hobby but I am trying to turn it into a freelance business (woohoo two articles I wrote got published!).

I just rediscovered my love for puzzles. I found an 8 puzzles in one box at Target for $12.99 (much less than paying $7-10 each!) and one of the puzzles I will frame and put up in our soon to be newly renovated dining room... at $12.99, it's much cheaper than buying a painting, so I figure it saved me money! Also, by doing puzzles, I am a lot less bored than before, so less likely to go out and spend money.

I also love to read... I should start going to the library again, but I am so bad at brining books back on time... by the time you add up the late fees, I figured it's almost cheaper to buy them for yourself from Amazon or Ebay. Then I don't have to worry about bringing them back either! But we're trying to cut costs so I should try to go to the library again. (Unfortunately, our library isn't all that big though, so we often have to order out the books.. and that can take a long time... and I'm impatient. :P)

I also love redecorating... and shopping for house stuff... but THAT hobby can be expensive, even though I shop for bargains!

But as everyone pointed out, hobbies are to relax and enjoy, which does not always mean saving money!

-Niki

[PRICEPLUS]

I like hunting and fishing. If I take the limit in game and fish that the state allows me to take I can save myself several hundred dollars a year. As I like being in the outdoors I have collected blueberries, raspberries. and even grape leaves. (I love stuffed grapeleaves.)

Granted that being in the outdoors is not everyones idea of a hobby but it is mine. It also saves me money in the long run.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by akaivyleaf

.... if I can turn a hobby into a business, its no longer classified as a hobby.

I dunno I would love to get paid for doing something I love. Would also love for DH to get aid to write (his hobby) would sortof take the drudgery out of work if I wanted to go do it.

BTW congrats to Niki!

[Some1Shy]

my hobbies

well i enter competitions online so thats free..however i also enter postcard compeititions that doesnt save me money but its not that much moolah...

my other hobby is going to thirft shops and buying fastfood toys that are still in there package's and there cheap like 10 cent each.. but i hardly buy them that much.

thats about it..

[marglo]

My hobby is entering sweepstakes and I do most of it online so it doesn't cost me usually...now and then I have joined a membership site to get more sweeps but overall it has mostly paid off. Every now and then I win something I can really use so it saves me money too.

Otherwise...not sure these are hobbies..but
I enjoy reading...and I buy most of my books used online and often turn around and sell them again online.
I enjoy traveling...yes, this costs but we do it about as frugally as we can..well, we don't backpack..but as frugally as two older people who like to be comfortable can do it. LOL
We don't spend nearly as much as most people tell me they do when they travel.
I also enjoy forums online such as this one and that doesn't cost me a thing except my time. :-)

[marglo]

Congrats on the publishing, Niki! That's great!

[niki_the_tiger]

Originally Posted by marglo

Congrats on the publishing, Niki! That's great!

Thanks! I just picked up a copy of NHToDo magazine and saw my name in print for the first time. Woohoo what a wonderful feeling! I had been published before but only online, never in print.